Sara Curtis Swims 51.03 to Win 100 Fly in Day Two Prelims of Cavalier Invite

2026 Cavalier Invite

• February 5th-7th, 2026
• Aquatic and Fitness Center, Charlottesville, VA
• Invite Format
• Results on Meet Mobile as “2026 Cavalier Invite”
• Day 1 Prelims Results
• Day 1 Finals Results
• Day 2 Prelims Results

Day two prelims of the Cavalier Invite went off this morning, and, UVA took the top seed in all but one event across both meets.

The meet kicked off with the 100 fly prelims on the women’s side, where Italian freshman Sara Curtis had a monster drop to touch in 51.03. This swim takes a second-and-a-half off the 52.53 she swam against Virginia Tech last month and will move her up to 11th in the nation this season.

This swim was big for Curtis, who has been looking at the 100 backstroke as her 3rd event at NCAAs, but faces conflict with the 50 free ending up on the same day in the new schedule. She currently sits 8th in the country in the 100 back, and this 100 fly time opens the door to a different event lineup that would have just one event a day.

Carly Novelline qualified 2nd in 51.38, which was also a lifetime best time, dropping from the 51.50 she swam at last year’s ACC Championships. This will move her up to 19th in the country this season.

Sophia Umstead followed the 100 fly performances up with a lifetime best 4:09.44 in the 400 IM, dropping from her previous best of 4:10.11 which she swam at the Tennessee Invite in November.

Zoe Skirboll earned the top seed in the women’s 100 breast, touching in 58.74 to mark her first time under 59 seconds in the event, dropping from her 59.09 in November. This is the 16th fastest time in the country this season. South Carolina’s Alexis Dalton swam a new personal best 1:01.23 to drop four tenths from the 1:01.69 she swam against Georgia Tech last month, qualifying 2nd overall.

Claire Curzan (200 free — 1:43.50) and Sylvia Roy (100 back — 53.71) picked up the other top seeds for the Virginia women in the prelims session.

On the men’s side, the Cavaliers did not see the same number of prelims best times. Jay Gerloff earned the top spot in the 100 breast in 53.20, exactly tying his lifetime best from last season’s ACC Championships.

They also had top seeds from Thomas Mercer (400 IM — 3:49.22), Tristen Davin (200 free — 1:36.01), Spencer Nicholas (100 back — 45.81), though all three were off their lifetime best times.

Freshman Blaise Van Slyke from William and Mary earned the top spot in the 100 fly prelims, touching in 49.61, a new season best but about a second off his pre-college best time of 48.89.

Tonight’s finals session will start at 6 p.m. EST.